The Farr Side: Betty White, Modern Family’ deserve Emmy nods

Thursday

The Primetime Emmy Award nominations were announced. I think they got it right. Almost.

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Award nominations were announced last week. For the first time I can remember, I think they got it right. Almost.

“American Idol,” “Glee,” “Mad Men” and “Modern Family” are all recognized, and for the right reason — they’re good.

I have to give props where props are due and Betty White deserves them all. At 89, the icon nabbed yet another nomination, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Elka Ostrosky on TV Land’s “Hot In Cleveland.”

“Hot In Cleveland” is one of funniest sitcoms to come along in the past few years. White deserves the nod, but I’m surprised not to see Wendie Mallick, Jane Leeves and Valerie Bertinelli beside her in the category. Those women are all hilarious, but White is the ultimate scene-stealer.

White could be heavily favored for a number of reasons, but the competition is perhaps the toughest in years. She will have to beat out Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”), Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live”), Jane Krawkowski (“30 Rock”) and Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”). Lynch’s Sue Sylvester might throw a curveball at White. Possibly literally. Lynch’s career is on fire.

Now for the major contenders. “Mad Men” topped the list of nominees with 19. The AMC drama is one of my favorites, so I’m pleased to see them so well-represented. Kudos to John Hamm (Don Draper), Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olsen), Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris) and John Slattery (Roger Sterling) in the acting categories, as well as the show for Outstanding Drama. It deserves to win.

TV’s funniest comedy, “Modern Family,” won last year for Best Comedy Series and could make it two straight. Every character is funny, and judging from the acting categories, Emmy voters agree. Bowen and Vergara are up against each other in the Supporting Actress category, whereas the guys rule the entire Supporting Actor field of nominees except for Jon Cryer (“Two and a Half Men”) and Chris Culfer (“Glee”). Eric Stonestreet, Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Ty Burell, all from “Modern Family,” round out the list.

I have a feeling Stonestreet could repeat, but Culfer is coming off a Golden Globe win and Cryer could get the sympathy vote for the Charlie Sheen fiasco. Speaking of Sheen, he was omitted from the Outstanding Lead Actor category. Guess who’s not going to be “winning”?

The awards are handed out Sept. 18 on NBC.

Online: www.emmys.com/nominations

David T. Farr is a Sturgis, Mich., Journal correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com. You can also find The Farr Side on Facebook.

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